Ask-A-Linguist Message Details

Subject:

Linguist = doctorate in linguistics?

Question:

Are ESL instructors with masters in linguistics considered
linguists, or is the title of linguist reserved only for those
holding doctorate degrees in linguistics?
Who can legitimately be referred to as a linguist?

Reply:

In the US there is a distinction between linguistics and applied linguistics which
focuses on how to teach foreign languages. At my university they are in separate
departments.
To be honest there are different methods of studying language and practitioners
may or may not respect that difference.